1,700 years ago, in the mighty and flame-scorched continent of Ignis, a storm of destruction loomed over the land of dragons. Lava carved rivers through the mountains, and the red sky hung heavy with smoke from the continent's volcanic peaks. Ignis was home to Isolde, the strongest of the Abyssian guardians and the last survivor among them. Her dragon blood had given her a long life, but she felt the weight of her years. Her only joy now was her young son, a spark of hope in an era nearing its end.
Their peace was shattered one fateful day. Dark magic thickened the air as an otherworldly portal ripped open, pouring out monstrous figures twisted by dark forces. These were not ordinary foes but invaders from beyond the realm of Abyssia. In that moment, Isolde knew no help would come—her fellow guardians had passed, and she alone stood to defend her people.
Filled with duty and sorrow, Isolde summoned her people. Her voice was resolute, laced with the wisdom of ages.
"Dragon warriors," she began, "today we face a threat beyond all we have ever known. We will not allow these creatures to end our legacy. To all who can fight—take to the front lines. To those who cannot—the young, the elders, the women—you must scatter to the other continents. Our dragon blood must survive."
Reluctantly, the people obeyed, bidding a tearful farewell to their homeland. Isolde turned to her family. She faced her husband with a somber gaze, asking him to escape with their son to preserve their line.
But he held her hand firmly, shaking his head. "I will not leave you to face this alone. I am your partner, and I will fight by your side."
Isolde, feeling the weight of his words, relented with a heavy heart. She entrusted their son to the dragon maids, ordering them to guard him with their lives and to ensure he was kept safe. With tearful determination, they agreed, vowing to protect the last hope of their line. Her eyes lingered on her son for one last moment before she and her husband steeled themselves for battle, shifting into human form to move swiftly to the front.
Before the gathering army of dragons, she delivered a final speech.
"My brothers and sisters," she called out, her voice carrying strength and sorrow, "this may be our last stand. Today, we fight not only for ourselves, but for every dragon yet to be born, for those who have come before us, and for the legacy we leave behind. We are dragons, forged in fire. We do not bend, we do not break—we are the flame that endures!"
Her soldiers answered with a thunderous war cry, raising their weapons high. Together, they charged into the monstrous horde, the ground rumbling beneath their feet as dragonfire met shadow. The battle was ferocious, the clash of fire and dark magic lighting up the land. For hours, the dragons fought valiantly, reducing countless creatures to ash. But for every monster they defeated, more surged from the portal.
As the battle raged on, the ranks of dragons dwindled until only Isolde, her husband, and a handful of warriors remained. Then, from the darkness emerged seven towering figures, each radiating power nearly equal to that of a guardian. Although weaker than Isolde in her prime, together they posed a deadly threat.
Isolde and her husband resumed their dragon forms, unleashing torrents of flame as they took on these new foes. The battle was brutal, a clash of titanic strength that drained what was left of their power. Midway through, Isolde's husband saw an attack aimed at her from an unforeseen angle. Without hesitation, he shielded her, taking the blow that would claim his life.
As her husband collapsed, Isolde felt a storm of grief and fury welling up inside her, but she forced herself to stay focused. She would honor his sacrifice. With a renewed fury, she tore through the remaining creatures until, finally, the seven monsters lay defeated.
But her victory was short-lived. From the portal, more creatures poured forth, led by a monstrous figure so powerful it shook the ground with each step. This King of Monsters, exuding dark energy, was a force nearly equal to her prime strength. Realizing that even her best efforts would not be enough, she felt despair creeping into her heart.
But in this dark hour, Isolde found a solution, one that would demand the last of her life. Gathering her strength, she called upon the Fire of Eternity, an ancient magic tied to the life force of dragons. She offered herself as a sacrifice, vowing to seal the monsters within Ignis.
"I am Isolde, the strongest guardian after Juan Miguel," she declared with unbreakable resolve. "I offer my life to lock these monsters within the borders of Ignis. If they ever dare cross, may they burn to ash!"
Her words unleashed a powerful enchantment, manifesting an invisible barrier over Ignis. This barrier would permit anyone to enter and leave—except for the monstrous invaders, who would be imprisoned here forever.
As her life force began to fade, Isolde felt her spirit merging with the very flames of the barrier. Her sacrifice was complete. The monstrous King and its horde howled in rage, unable to breach the boundaries she had set. Her vision dimmed, but as her spirit left her, she felt a deep peace, knowing that she had done everything to protect her people.
Ignis fell silent. The dragon blood would survive, safeguarded by her sacrifice. And while the monsters were trapped within the continent's bounds, her legacy would live on, not only in the flames of Ignis but in the hearts of her descendants.